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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 
Sciences 

vjuipuiauuii 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y,  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


■  <-< 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


O' 


Technical  and  Bibliog^'aphic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  meth>.>d  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  coulaur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelllculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

La  titre  df/  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couieur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  cthor  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  coulaur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 


n 


n 


n 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peu^  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  fe  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6x6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peutdtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couieur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculdes 

r^T^Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


n 


Pages  d6color«^es,  tachetdes  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachees 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gaie  de  ('impression 

Includes  supplementary  materic 
Comprend  du  matd'iel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      j    Pages  detached/ 

r^-  Showthrough/ 

[■     I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
ate,  ont  6t6  film^es  i  nouveau  de  facon  ^ 
obtenir  la  meilleura  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 
10X  14X  18X  22X 


7T 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


30X 


24X 


28X 


3 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  hsr«  has  b««n  raproductd  thanka 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 


L'axampiaira  filmA  fut  raproduit  grica  it  la 
g^n^rositA  da: 


Archives  of  Ontario 
Toronto 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  the  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacificationa. 


Original  copiaa  In  printad  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  laat  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impr«s« 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copiaa  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  imprea* 
aion,  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printad 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol      •-(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  ate,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratioa.  Thoae  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hanc  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bonom.  as  many  framios  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrams  iiluatrate  tha 
method: 


Archives  of  Ontario 
Toronto 

Lea  images  suivantas  ont  4tA  reproduites  avec  le 
plua  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  I'axempiaira  filmA,  et  en 
conformiti  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fllmage. 

Lee  exempiaires  orsginaux  dont  la  couverture  an 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  fiimis  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  bZ  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
demiire  page  qui  comports  una  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autrss  axemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmte  9n  commandant  par  la 
premiAr«  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
dimpreaaion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
damiAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  salon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa.  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  atra 
filmto  d  das  taux  da  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etra 
raproduit  en  un  seui  cliche,  il  est  filmi  i  partir 
da  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite. 
et  da  haut  an  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  n^cassaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

(e) 


/r^/ 

• 

B 

ky 

m 

• 

AN  APPEAL 

• 

« 

TO    THE 

CITIZENS  OF  MICHIGAN, 


SHOWING 


V 


THE  NECESSITl  OF  THE  EARLY  COMPLETION 


OF   THE 


GEEAT  WESTERN  RAIL  WAY, 


FROM 


DETROIT  TO  THE  NIAGARA  RIVER. 


DETROIT: 

HARMON,   BRODHBAD   b  CO.,  PRIirTBRS. 

1851. 


♦ 


m 


The  following  article  was  prepared  for  and  published  in  the  Detroit 
Free  Press.  The  subject  is  one  of  such  Tital  importance  to  Mi- 
chigan, that  it  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  pubhsh  it  in  a  pamphlet 
form,  for  more  general  circulation  and  preservation.  The  facts  stated 
are  derived  from  the  most  authentic  sources.  The  distances  or  length 
of  the  various  lines  of  road  on  the  north  and  south  shores  of  Lake  Erie, 
are  taiken  from  the  Keports  of  Engineers,  and  may  be  relied  upon  as 
oorreci 

Dbtroit,  March  J,7,  1851. 


m 


^^ 


.  i 


CANADA  RAILWAY. 


4    6 
I 


As  the  citizens  of  Michigan  will  soon  be  appealed  to  for  aid  lo  help 
build  the  rail  road  from  Windsor,  opposite  this  city,  to  the  Niagara  riv- 
er, it  Will  be  well  to  examine  the  advantages  and  beneiits  which  we  shall 
secure  by  the  eai-ly  completion  of  this  road.  That  the  construction  of 
railways  are  of  great  benefit  to  the  country,  no  one  will  deny.  Bos- 
ion  has  expended  millions  of  dollars  to  open  communications  witli  the 
interic^r  of  New  England,  and  has  reaped  a  rich  reward  in  the  increase 
of  her  trade,  and  in  the  value  of  her  real  estate.  New  York  for  a  long 
period  felt  secure  in  her  position,  and  thought  to  bid  deliance  to  all  the 
efforts  of  her  rivals,  Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  but  found  at  last 
itwasTiecessary  to  put  forth  her  mighty  energies  to  maintain  her  position 
as  the  great  emporium  of  the  continent.  These  efforts  of  the  rival  cities, 
have  brouglit  in  to  existence  several  lines  of  railways,  starting  from 
their  respective  points,  and  having  for  their  object  to  command  and  con- 
trol the  trade  and  travel  of  the  "Great  West." 

The  several  lines  having  this  object  ui  view,  are  tlie  roads  from  Bos- 
ton to  Ogdensburg,  the  roads  leading  from  Boston  and  New  York  to 
Buffalo,  and  from  thence  to  be  puslied  forward  on  the  south  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  through  Ohio  and  Indiana  to  St.  Louis;  the  Pennsylvania 
road  leading  from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh,  and  from  thence  connect- 
ing with  the  great  Central  Route  through  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois  to 
Missouri ;  and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  rail  road,  connecting  Baltimore 
with  the  central  roads  of  Ohio,  and  thus  finding  their  way  to  St.  Louis. 
It  will  be  seen  that  all  these  routes  fail  to  reach  us,  tfnless  we  can  have 
a  road  constructed  through  the  Province  of  Upper  Canada,  from  Nia- 
gara to  the  Detroit  or  St.  Clair  river,  and  there  connecting  with  the 
Michigan  Central  Railway. 

Within  a  year  from  the  present  time,  four  of  these  great  lines  of 
railway  will  reach  Ohio,  viz :  the  New  York  central  line,  by  the  Lake 
shore  road,  the  New  York  and  Erie  road,  the  Pennsylvania  and  Pitts- 
burgh, and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road.  AVhile  these  roads  are  being 
pushed  forward  with  all  the  celetiiy  attainable  bv  active  and  energetic 
men,  having  an  unlimited  amount  of  money  at'  their  command,  Ohi  j 
and  Indiana  are  pusliing  forward  their  roads  so  as  to  meet  them,  and  Illi- 
nois has  just  chartered  a  road  with  branches  from  Cairo  to  Chicau-o, 
which  runs  the  whole  length  of  the  State,  to  be  finished  in  two  yeal-s, 
and  Wisconsin  is  already  moving  so  as  to  connect  Avith  these  various 
Imes,  or  channels  of  communication  with  the  great  Atlantic  cities. 


VVhiUi  yve  see  &.1  th'^s-a  aotive  oprjritiona  going  on  around  us,  for  the 
purpose  of  furni--i!injj^*  aii  of  the  norihwest-Tn  states  with  an  easy  access 
and  coiuiinious  communiouiion  with  Is'ow  York,  what  have  the  citizens 
of  Micliigiiii  done,  or  Avliat  do  thoj  propose  to  do  vjwards  op-.-ning  such 
roads  us  may  be  llece^sary  to  conne<jt  with  some  one  or  more  of  the 
hiicti  01  conimunicaiion.  As.  yd  alio  has  done  noihhig.  Not  a  doll;ir 
lias  been  .subsciihed,  nor  an  cflurt  bt.<'M  made  to  procure  sucli  a  sub- 
scriiJti(.)ii.  is'one  oC  these  linos  wiU  ]ioip  niuc-U!nii)s  of  ihe  territory 
of  our  estate.  Tlie  nt.aicsl  will  be  tlio  south  shore  road,  Kuicliln;;-  at  To- 
ledo and  runniiigtlience  west  through  tlie  nonhern  coumii;s  of  Indiana, 
or  perhaps  lor  a  short  lime  over  the  rSoutheni  Railroad,  if  that  is  con- 
tinued west  iVom  its  present  terminus.  All  th'.'.so  lines  are  far  to  the 
south  ('f  us,  wiih  no  means  lo  connect  with  them,  and  even  if  we  had  the 
means,  not  desirable,  by  reason  of  the  greatly  increased  distanoo  over 
the  Canada  route. 

Unless  wo  move  ourselves  and  induce  others  to  do  so  nh'>,  wo  may 
rest  assured  that  in  less  then  throe  years,  and  probably  beioro  our 
legislature  will  meet  again,  Michigan  will  be  f;ir  behind  all  of  her  sister 
states  of  the  West  as  lo  facilities  for  trade  and  commerce.  Michig>iii, 
with  ail  of  her  natural  adventages,  cannot  compete  with  those  lying  far- 
ther from  maikct  than  she  does.  We  shall  be  lockediip  by  the  ice 
for  three,  and  pei-haps  live  months  of  the  year — our  business  suspend- 
ed, our  markets  dormant — while  our  less  favored  competitors,  from  their 
ownactivity  and  perseverance,  by  putting  their  own  shuuldercj  to  the 
•wheel  instead  of  calling  for  others  to  help,  without  an  eflbrt  themselves, 
will  enjoy  anacii\'e  business  for  tlio  entire  year  without  any  hindrance 
or  obstruction. 

No  one  can  well  calculate  the  disadvantiiges  under  which  a  com- 
munity or  state  would  labor,  which  was  cut  olf  for  even  one-third  of 
the  year,  from  a  market,  compiired  with  one  always  having  a  rapid  and 
easy  commimication.  It  is  almost  like  the  loss  of  onr.-third  of  the  ac- 
tive energies  of  the  business  men  of  the  state.  If  indolence  in  indi- 
viduals is  disastrous,  so  it  is  to  states.  And  no  amount  of  aciivity  on 
our  part,  for  the  ei^ht  months  when  navigation  is  open,  will  compensate 
for  the  loss  oi  lime  when  we  arc  shut  oil  f:om  all  communication 
save  by  the  stage  coach. 

It  is  well  know-n  that  thousands  upon  thousands  are  prevented  from 
even  visiting  us  in  the  summer  season  by  reason  of  fear  of  cj'Ossing 
Lake  Erie,  w^hile  in  the  winter  we  see  no  one,  ■'.'•ho  is  not  compelled  by 
absolute  necessity  to  come  here.  We  have  complained  of  the  travel 
and  emigration  passing  by  us,  but  the  past  is  nothing  to  what  the  future 
Avill  be,  if  Ave  permit  the  great  lines  penetrating  all  of  the  surrounding 
states  to  be  completed  withotit  making  one  effort  to  bring  tht,'m  to  our 
own  state.  Instead  of  a  few  passing  by,  they  will  all  go  where  we 
shall  never  see  them.  What  inducement  can  we  hold  out  to  the  emi- 
grant when  he  linds  that  ior  one-third  of  the  time  he  is  shut  out  from 
all  active  business  communication  with  the  seaboard,  as  against  those 
states  having  a  continuous  line  of  railway.     We  shall  stand  no  chance. 


The  rich  and  :ertilo»  lands  of  the  northera  portion  of  our  state  will  re- 
main an  uncultivated  wilderness,  while  the  surrouudi.irr  sutes  will 
floimsh  like  a  garden.  In  years  past,  it  has  been  deemed  of  sufficient 
importance  to  our  state  to  appoint  specijJ  agents  to  visit  N.'w  York  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  emigrants  to  visit  and  settle  within  our  state. 
Ihis  course  was  deemed  uecessarv  when  the  -veat  tborou>>htiire  Avas 
by  water,  and  brouglit  all  of  these  emigrants  in  si-lit  of  Michiguii.  How 
much  more  difticult  wiliii  be  to  turn  emigration'  here  whet?  the  gr.iat 
thoroughlme  shall  pass  entirely  south  of  us,  iw  u  will,  unless  tiie  Can- 
ada road  IS  completed.  Unless  we  can  obtain  a  tmr  proporition  of  this 
emio-ration.  we  shall  find  oursutefiir  beiiind  the  other  western  states 
at  the  ne.\t  census. 

lfwehadnoothera:gumeut  ;,.  urg.,  but  the  one  already  stated, 
that  alone  ought  to  b.^  sutHcient  t^j  induce  u.s,  as  individuals,  and  a  state, 
to  use  every  eltort  wiihinour  means  lu  open  :i  communication  with  the 
rail  roads  of  JScw  Y-.-rk,  through  Canada. 

^.But  there  are  other  r.j.isons  why  we  should  aid  this  proieoi,  reasons 
wmch  should  convince  aU  }iaving  the  interests  o:  Mi.^higari  at  heart 
some  of  wluch  we  wiii  allude  to  before  wo  are  done  with  tins  subject 

iJio  importance  of  Ih-j  ^p>}edy  construction  of  this  road  through  Can- 
ada,  so  lar  as  it  will  have  an  effeet  upon  emigi-ation  to  this  state,  has 
been  alluded  to.  As  you  iacrea,.e  a  community  in  numbers,  you  in- 
crease the  talent  and  c  ipaolty.  To  give  tlie  most  active  and  profit- 
able  employment  to  this  business  oapticity,  to  mako  tlieir  industry  the 

has 
to 

vidual  interests,  th<»  establishment  of  manufa.;Lories  of  various'kiuds  in 
aU  agTicultural  district,^.  But  It  k  settl<>d  by  the-  experience  of  many 
years  that  manutactunngotmn.>t  be  carried  on  succ(.ssfulh'  on  a  larffe 
scale,  when  the  communi-jatioa  with  the  mirket  is  not  continuous  a?d 
rehable. 

It  is  with  reference  to  :himanufa-:tunng  interests  we  wish  now  to 
present  the  importance  of  ;liis  rail  road  through  Canada 

Our  present  able  Guvern>.ri:i  his  last  message  .-ill  uded  to  the  vast 
amount  of  water  power  within  this  state,  which  miglit  pnjtitablv  be  used 
for  manufacturing  and  mecbaiucal  purp..se,s.  Wh..?.  will  this'  now  un- 
employed force  be  brought  into  requisition?  Wh.Mi  the  population  within 
our  own  state  and  in  its  immediate  vicinity  sliuU  need  it— ^  which  must 
be  many  years,  II  we  let  the  tide  of  emigration  pass  around  us  instead 
ot  througli  the  state)— or  when  there  are  safe,  cheap,  speed)',  continuous 
and  reliable  modes  ot  transportation  connecting  those  districts  titted  for 
manufocturing,  with  those  places  where  tbj  articles  manufactured  wiU 
always  hnd  a  sure  and  fjiir  m-irket 

The  manufactory  of  cotton  was  not  attemj.ted  iu  Rochester,  K  Y 
untiltheAlbany  and  Buffalo  rail  roads  were  allowed  to   carry  freight' 
when  the  canal  was  closed.     There  ai-e   factories  and  machinery  there 
now  which  would  do  credit  to  any  community,  and  the  business  carried 


able  empluyruent  to  this  business  eapticity,  to  mako  tlieir  industry  tl 
mostprohtab]e,re.puresn  great  diversity  of  pursuits.     Hence,   it  h 
always  been  an  object  with  those  having  the  eontrol  of  state  affairs, 
inducc,_as  far  as  practicable  without  tw  much  interferenee  \^'ith  in( 


on  as  KucceBsfully  as  in  the  eastern  states,  the  low  price  of  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life  quite  outweighinrr  the  extra  cost  in  the  transportatiou 
of  that  portion  of  th«  stock  and  c^otiis  which  have  to  go  and  come  from 
an  eastcni  market.  Under  the  stimuhis  of  these  new  enterprises,  the 
city,  wliich  belore  hud  nearlj^  ccjised  to  grow,  hiw  tuki-n  a  mw  start, 
and  is  now  increasiiii,'  as  rapidly  as  at  arjy  former  pe liod,  and  furnishmg 
a  much  better  market  than  ever  before,  for  the  produce  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  ,    ,     ,  ^    t 

We  tiud  tlie  same  thing  true  with  other  places.  Indeed  manufacto- 
ries of  any  kind  cannot  be  supported  without  an  easy,  safe  and  speedy 
access  to  market  Compel  a  manufacturing  association  of  any  descrip- 
tion to  hold  its  stock  of  raw  material  for  nearly  half  the  year,  with 
no  outlet  for  its  manulactuied  artl.;les  for  mcpre-  than  half  of  the  year, 
and  the  amount  of  its  dead  capital  compared  with  its  active  capital,  is 
so  large  as  to  make  it  difficult  if  not  wholly  impGesiblu  to  compete  with 
those  more  favorably  situated  in  the  same  business.  This  is  especially 
burdfiusome  and  discouraging  in  a  state  like  our  own,  where  the  value 
of  capital  is  greater  tiian  it  is  in  New  York  and  New  England.        ^ 

It  is  this  easy  access  to  market  througliout.  the  enure  year,  by  the 
constructJc  i  of  railways,  which  has  given  New  England  such  a  start 
of  all  the  other  portions  of  the  Union  in  iiuinufacturing. 

In  no  agricultural  community  is  the  policy  of  u  diversity  of  pursvuts 
more  wise  than  where  the  chief  staple  is  wheat,  the  price  of  wJiich  is 
very  fluctuating,  uml  th"  crop  the  most  uncertfiin  of  all  the    grains. 

No  state  is  'better  situated,  geograpliically  and  physically,  for  most 
kinds  of  manufaciuriug,  than  \lichigan,  if  it  had  a  steady  and  rehable 
communication  with  tlie  eastern  markets  thvoughcait  th(.'  entire  year. 
Iron,  copper  and  coal  abound.  Water  power  is  abundant,  and  building 
materia^'  cost  only  tiic  Inbor  of  putting  tiiem  into  r>i»ape.  The  position 
of  this  state,  if  a  great  t-lK>r(jughfaie  .an  be  made  to  and  through  it  for 
the  transit  of  the  raw  rnnterial  and  the  manufactured  article,  when 
ready  for  market,  is  unsurpassed.  Many  of  the  western  merchants 
would  find  it  for  their  interest  to  purchase  here,  rather  than  to  incur 
the  expense  of  seeking  tiic  isame  articiii-  in  ii  ir.orti  distant  market. 
Our  iron  and  coal  beds  would  be  opened.  The  copper  from  the 
mexhaustable  mines  on  Lake  i^upeiior  wc»u1d  be  manufactured  into 
such  articles  as  would  be  required  here,  instead  of  being  transpor- 
ted to  Pittsburgh  or  Uoston,  for  llie  purpose  of  being  smelted.  And 
the  wool,  ranking  as  the  second  staple  article  of  the  state,  would  fur- 
nish emy)loyment'  for  more  labor  than  it  takes  to  grow  it. 

All  of  these  advantages,  direct  and  immediate,  to  our  state,  are  hke- 
lyto  be  lost  or  postponed  for  an  indefinite  period,  without  we  lend  some 
efficient  aid  to  the  construction  of  the  Canada  railway. 

We  have  treated  this  subject,  so  far,  as  one  of  gmus,_  lo  be  secui-ed 
to  our  state,  both  in  population  and  vastly  increased  business,  and  capi- 
tal, by  aiding  tliis  road  by  a  Uberal  subscription  of  stock.  But  now  we 
are  about  to  speak  of  the  daily  losses,  incurred  by  all  classes  of  the  com- 
mmunity,  for  want  of  such  a  communication.     Some  may  be  surprised 


« 


utthls  proposltioc,  butitisnevertlicksstrue.  No  one  will  deaj  but 
thut  the  mcrcliant  requires  a  much  larger  capital  to  do  a  safo  buslaess 
here  thau  he  would,  were  he  uut  cutoQ'lrum  supplies  for  eo  large  a  pnrt 
of  the  year.  This  puts  the' profitable  mercantile  business  iuto  fewer 
hands,  who  can  control  the  larger  meiins  necessary  to  that  business 
here,  above  what  is  necessary  to  do  the  same  business  in  more  favored 
localities,  while  the  farmer  and  the  mechanic,  constituting  the  cus- 
tomers of  these  merchants  throughout  tlia  whole  State,  have  to  pay 
for  the  idli^ness  of  this  extra  cnpitiil  retjuired  in  the  business,  as  well 
OS  for  many  otlier  of  the  losses  and  disadviintagcs  of  luculity.  by  *he 
increased  price  necessarily  put  upon  every  thing  in  the  retail  trade. 

The  sale  of  the  various  kmds  of  merchandize  is  regulated  as  to  the 
quantity^,  to  a  considerable  extent  by  the  price  and  quantity  of  produce 
with  which  the  yreat  majority  of  our  people  are  directly  or  mdirectly  to 
pay  for  their  goods.  After  navigation  closes,  if  the  price  of  produce 
falls  below  the  average,  the  merchant  hnds  his  shelves  loaded  with 
goods,  which  he  cannot  sell,  and  he  is  obliged  to  carry  them  over  to 
another  season,  for  siUe  returns.  The  depreciation  of  value  in  such 
cases  is  very  great,  and  the  purchjiser  is  compelled  to  take  up  with 
an  inferior  article,  and  one  perhaps  out  of  date,  because  of  the  mis- 
fortune compelling  the  trader  to  hold  them  over,  if,  on  the  other 
baud,  the  price  of  produce  should  be  largely  above  the  estimated  or 
usual  rates,  the  merchant  finds  himself  short,  and  additional  prices  to 
the  consumer  are  the  necessary  consequence. 

But  these  losses  do  not  arise  alone  from  lluctuatiou  in  the  price  of 
our  staple  commodities.  No  merchant,  however  well  informed,  cau 
forsee  the  wants  of  his  customers  for  a  long  time  ahead,  so  perfectly  as 
tiot  to  over-purchase,  or  under  purchase,  to  greater  or  less  extent,  a 
considerable  proportion  of  the  articles  constituting  his  stock.  The 
losses  fi'om  causes  of  this  nature,  probably  amount  to  at  least  twice 
or  three  times  as  much  as  the  loss  of  interest,  upon  the  value  of 
goods  purchased  too  early  or  out  of  season,  because  they  cannot  be 
brought  hero  at  a  later  period,  when  they  are  actually  re([uired,  be- 
cause navigatiuu  U  su>pen  Jed. 

Before  the  completion  of  the  Erie  canal  the  merchants  residing  in 
the  North-west,  visited  New  York  but  once  in  the  year,  and  were 
necessarily  compelled  to  purchase  a  stock  ('f  goods  sufficient  to  last  for 
the  year.  The  completion  of  tlnit  work  made  a  vast  change  in  this 
respect,  and  the  complc^tion  of  the  Railroads  through  New  York  has 
worked  almost  as  much  of  a  change  as  the  canal.  Now  many  of  our 
merchants  purchas^e  three  or  four  times  during  the  season  of  naviga- 
tion, rather  than  incur  the  loss  of -interest  and  the  danger  of  accumu- 
lating an  unsalable  tock  of  goods  by  purchasing  in  the  spring  and 
fall  alone. 

Wo  had  hoped  to  have  been  able  to  lay  before  our  readers  some 
statistics  which  would  have  shown  the  loss  to  various  interests  for  want 
of  a  railroad  from  here  to  Buffalo.  But  we  have  been  disappointed. 
We  can  only  approximate  to  it.     The  imports  will  be,  by  the    time  the 


10 


Road  could    be  finished,  if  commonc^d    now,    about  ^8,000,000 say 

eight  millions  of  dollars  per  annum.  If  instead  of  buying  this  stock  in 
the  spring  and  fall,  in  equal  proportions,  it  was  ourchased  as  the 
comniunity  required,  the  stock  constantl}-  on  hand  upon  which  interest 
is  paid  would  not  be  more  than  one-half,  or  at  furthest  not  over 
three-fourths  what  it  is  now.  This  would  be  a  saving  of  interest  on 
one-fourtlrof  the  purchase,  wliich  is  equal  to  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
-twp  thousand  iive  liundred  dollars  per  annum,  or  more  than  our 
entire  State  expenses  proper.  The  depreciation  in  the  value  of  these 
goods  purchased  out  of  time,  will  am<:)unt  to  nearly  as  much  more— 
and  this  loss  has  mainly  to  be  borne  bv  the  consumers  of  the  goods,  in 
the  sliape  oi  an  enhanced  price  upon  every  article  they  aro  compelled 
to  purchase. 

There  are  other  losses  of  this  kind,  which  fall  more  exclusively  upon 
the_  producer.  All  along  tlie  line  of  Railroad  in  y,e^^'  York,  beef  and 
pork  are  taken  to  New  York  and  Boston  fresh,  and  find  a  far  better 
market  than  when  salted.  The  average  price  paid  for  pork  at  Roches- 
ter, New  York,  we  are  informed,  during  the  winter,  was  five  and 
half  cents,  while  here  it  did  not  exceed  three  and  a  half  cents,  a  dif- 
ference of  forty  dollars  a  ton,  all  owing  to  the  fact  that  there  it  was 
taken  to  market  fresh  and  here  it  had  \o  be  salted  and  packed. 

The  difference  between  the  price  of  flour  during  the  winter  season, 
when  the  farmer  must  sell  sufficient  to  meet  his  taxes  and  his  annual 
payments  for  goods,  in  this  State  and  Nevr  York,  oftentimes  exceeds 
by  double  the  cost  of  transportation.  This  loss  falls  upon  the  produ- 
cer, for  want  of  a  mode  of  reaching  market  which  will  be  permanent 
all  the  year. 

Tiiere  is  another  loss  more  seriou?,  we  think,  than  the  one  men- 
tioned, connected  with  the  grain  trade.  The  short  time  between 
the  harvesting  of  the  crops  and  the  close  of  navigation,  compels  every 
one  to  throw  his  stock  into  market,  and  the  consequence  is  that  it  is 
overstocked,  freights  become  exhorbitant,  and  the  loss  of  interest  and 
storage  in  New  York  while  awaitinra;  a  sale,  is  ruinous  to  the  jiurchas- 
er.  _  Floiir  which  was  shipped  from  liere  last  fall  in  November,  upon 
which  an  advance  of  three  dollars  and  forty  cents  was  obtained,  will 
not  sell  now  for  moi-e  than  enough  to  refund  the  advance,  and  costs  of 
freight,  and  various  charges  consequent  upon  sending  it  to  market  when 
the  avenues  are  crowded,  &c.,  although  the  price  during  the  winter 
of  thefirst  quality  of  Michio-an  flour  has  been  five  dollars.  The  same 
scene-is  re-enacted  in  the  sprng — a  rush  of  flour,  high  freights,  an  over- 
stocked market,  a  decline  in  prices  and  ruinous  losses.  °This  is  the 
routine  every  year,  or  twice  a  year,  and  the  only  rcmedv,  or  even  par- 
tial remedy,  is  to  open  a  channel  to'market  which  will  not  be  closed  by 
cold  weather. 

It  is  within  the  recollection  of  many  of  our  readers,  that  while  the 
price  of  flour  here  was  six  dollars  a  barrel,  it  was  ten  dollars  in  New- 
York,  a  difference  of  more  than  four  times  the  cost  oi  transportation 
by  Railway.     During  the   winter   months   the   increase  of  price  iu 


11 


New  York  has  but  little  eftVct  up^a  our  market,  because  we  must 
wait  until  summer,  before  v.'o  can  reach  that  market.  The  losses 
which  tlie  farmers  of  Michigan  liave  sustained  since  we  commenced 
exporting  flour,  for  the  want  >f  a  safe,  cheap  winter  communication 
with  New  York,  would  liave  nearly  constructed  the  road  from  here 
to  Buffalo,  through  Canada. 

That  we  are  subject  to  all  <.]io  inconveniences  and  losses  we  have  men- 
tioned, IS  certain.  Tiie  evil  being  admitted,  the  only  question  loft  for 
us  U)  consider  is,  where  we  can  hnd  a  remedy,  and  whether  it  is  with- 
m  oui-  reach.     The  compleUou  of  the  railways  around  the  south  shore 

0  Lake  Erie,  it  is  evident,  will  not  be  available  to  a  great  proportion 
of  the  people  of  this  state,  and  we  cannot  therefore  look  to  them  as  an  ef- 
fectual  remedy.  Wcro  sucli  roads  completed,  with  branche.  throuo-h 
the  various  portions  of  the  state,  connecting  with  this  main  hne,  suli  the 
increased  distance  to  j)ass  round  Lake  ^Erie  is  such,  that  a  o-reater 
portion  ot  our  state  would  be  farther  from  market  than  Indiana!  The 
expense  of  transporting  all  of  our  ex])orts  and  imports  over  ^his  in- 
cre^is.id  distance  must  be  borne  by  our  own  citizens.  So  tar  as  this 
increased  expense  enters  into  our  trade,  so  for  we  are  in  inferior  posi- 
tion to  our  neighbors.     Can  we  help  ourselves?  We  believe  so 

The  charter  of  the  Great  Western  Railway  is  all  that  can  be  desired 
ior  i.he  construction  of  a  road  from  Windsor  to  Hamilton  and  the  Sus- 
pension bridge  at  Niagara.     No  further  legislation  is  required  in  Canada. 

1  he  company  IS  fully  and  eiliciently  organized,  the  route  has  been  sur- 
veyed by  able  and  competent  engineers,  the  plans  all  completed,  and 
the  ^nitire  hne  located,  and  contracts  entered  into  forgradino-  and  su- 
perstructure from  the  Suspension  bridge  via  Hamilton,  London  to 
Windsor,  opposite  the  city  of  Detroit  Of  the  feasibility  of  tb^  route 
there  can  be  no  doubt.  The  chief  engineer  in  his  report  sa3's  that 
"on  I. he  whole  distance  o/'228  miles,  over  217  miles  is  perfecthj  straioht 
''and  the  lemjth  of  the  located  line  differs  less  than  four  miles  froni  an 
''air  line  drawn  between  the  same  points."  I  know  of  no  case  in  this 
"country  or  elsewhere,  comparable  with  this,  and  it  is  doubtful  wheth- 
"er  unother  location  of  the  same  extent  can  be  found  on  the  continent 
"so  well  adapted  to  tiie  attaiDrneut  of  high  \elocitv  and  o-vcar  e-onom^ 
"ot  transportation."  '  °      -    -  .    my 

The  government  oftlie  Province  offeis  to  guaranty  the  bonds  of  the 
ci)mpany  equal  m  amount  tu  ...ne  half  of  the  cost  of  the  road  The 
I  rovmcud  securities  are  now  selling  in  London  at  about  107,  which  is 
C(iu;il  to  about  117  in  New  I'ork,  or  17  per  cent  premium 

The  subscripiions  to  thi.  stock  in  Canada  amount  to  aboii  one 
million  oi  dollars.  The  company  have  appealed  to  the  various  rail 
road  companies  m  New  Vork  and  in  Michigan,  as  well  as  t-.  the  citizens 
ot  those  states,  tor  aid  to  complete  their  important  v^ork.  A  milliou 
and  a  half  of  dollars,  in  addition  to  what  has  been  obtained,  with 
the  aid  pi  omised  by  the  Canadian  Government,  will  be  sufficient  Of 
this  amount  Michigan  is  asked  tor  live  hundred  thousand  dollars  Can 
this  amount  be  raised  ?     Of  tliis,  there  is  not  the    least   doubt    if  every 


man    who  is  direolly  beneiitod  by  openii;- ihis  road  wh.l  but  subscribe 
a  tJthe  01  his  real  abihty. 

In  New  Vork,  not  only  hev  ciUzms  luvor  this  road  as  an  important 
hnk  ju  the  easy  communication  with  the  West,  but  ttie  leo-islaturc 
with  tluit  wise  lorsio'lit  whicli  invited  tiie  trade  of  tlie  Wosr  °throu(vh 
that  state  by  constructing  the  Erie  canal,  i,as  authorized  the  rail  roads 
to  take  stockin  the  Great  ^Vestern  Comi.;iny,  under  tlie  belief  that  it 
wii   be  greatly  to  her  advantage.     Ln  this  New  York  is  not  mistak^'n. 

Ln  our  state  the  Central   Company  has  asked  the  same  i)rivile<.e  of 
the  egislature.      We  think,  in  an  en/erprise  so  important  to  our  Itale 
as  t/te  speedy  construction  of  this  road,  the  legislature  should  pas^-  if 
practicable,  a  law  authorizing  any  rail  road  or  other   corporation  in 
this  state,  to  subscribe  for  stock  in  this  compami,  who  can  be  induced 
todott.     h  IS  true    the  money  is  to  be  expended   in    Canada,    but  it 
will  be  seen  by  reference  to  what  we  have  already  said,  JVIichioan  will 
save  the  amount  of  subscription  asked  for  in  a  single  year,  and  the  stock, 
as  an  investment,  will  always  produce  a  large  return  in  the  wav  of  divi- 
dends.    It  has  often  been    remarked,  and  with    irutl!,  too,  'tha;   the 
construcuon  of  the  Erie  canal  hadagreater  effect  on  ihe  Western  Stales 
than  on  .New  York   and  the  same  thing  will  be  seen  U  the  completion 
of  this  road.     On  the  comp]eti.)n  of  tliis  I'oad,  we  siialf  be    within    ^4 
hours  01  -New  York  city  thi'oughout  the  year.     ^Ve  sliall  have  no  uiriU-r 
to  close  up  our  navigation.     No  season  when    we  cannot  reacn   our 
great  rnarket-no  time  when    Ave  are    shut  out    from   our  intercourse 
with  New  York.     Michigan  will  then  occupy    the  enviable  posidon  of 
one   ot  the  mos    favored  st:ites.     JJetroit  is,  by  tlie  located  lines  of  tins 
railwfty,  only  tilty-three  miles  larther  tVom  Niagara  Falls  than  v Cleve- 
land is  irom  Luaalo,  and   IS  lifty-two   miles   nearer  than    Toled.     and 

sevemy-twonHlesneaixM-  than  Monroe,  if  her  outlet  is  by  the  way  of 
loledo  round  the  south  shore  of  Lake  1<  rie.  In  truth,  it  may  ht  Led 
m  a  well  settled  J av-,  that  no  portion  of  Afichigan  can  afihrd  to  gohj 
the  ,outh  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  Ncxo  York,  if  theg  can  have  a  tad. 
•way  connec/ing  imth  the  Canada  road.  From  Detroit  to  New  Yo.k  city 
by  this  route,  11  1.  .IX  hundred  and  nluviy-  mil.s.  while  a'on.  Toledo 
It  isseven  hundred  and  (orty-hve  miles.  It  is  a  compariso:i  of  these 
rouces  the  data  all  bemg  taken  from  the  reports  of  engineers,  ihat  has 
compelled  us  to  say,_that  it  is  for  tlie  interest  of  every  "ountv  in  Michi- 

S'^Jr']    fl  'T  T  '"^".l^^'^''^'^'^-'^-  located-tu  have'  this   road 

tlirough  CV.ada  completed.  Michigan  cannot  a  [Ford  to  pa>/  the  ad> 
dttwnal  expense  of  the  long  route,  if  she  can  possibly  get  the  short  one, 
Ihe  udeofemigiation  which  has  so  long  passed  by  us,  will  pass 
through  our  state  Instead  of  sending  an  agen.  /  New  York  to 
show  the  greiit  advantages  of  our  state,  we  shall  have  the  anive  ener- 
gy ot  «w/y  me/ZiOM*  of  capital  invested  in  niil  roads  in  N.vv  York  to 
work  lor  us.     Under  such  a  stimulus  we  may   expect   our  population 

lit  uy'  '^'  "'"^  'r^'""'''  Capital  will  flow  in  upon  us,  rail 
roads  will  be  constructed,  and  manutactories  established  far  beyond 
what  1  would  no'^  be  deemed  prudent  or  safe  to  predict,  lest  we 
might  be    deemed  visionary. 


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I  ne  effect  upon  Ihe  state  would  be  almost  magical.  The  increased 
line  of  railroads,  which  it  would  very  materally  aid  to  brmo-  into  ex- 
istence, would  probably  amount  to  almost  as  much  more  a?  we  have 
now.  The  Detroit  and  PonLiac  joad  would  be  extended  across  the 
state—a  road  to  Port  Huron  would  undoubtedly  be  constructed,  and 
the  Central  rmlway  would  require  a  double  track  immediately,  to  ac- 
commodate the  A-ast  increase  of  business,  which  would  require  an  outlay 
of  at  least  lour  millions  of  capital.  And  a  road  would  sooner  or  later 
be  constructed  trom  some  point  upon  the  southern  road  to  connect 
with  the  Canada  road. 

Tne  tax  of  the  Central  road  with  a  double  track,  would   be  eighty 
thousand   dollars  a  year,  a  sum  sufficient  to   meet  all   the  currertex- 
penses  ot  our  state,  while  the  tax  on  the  increased  capital  invested  in 
railways    in  Michigan  would  furnish  all  the  sinking  fund  required  to 
liquidate  our  public  debt,  wulmut  a  dollar  tax  being  le;ied    upon   the 
people.     With  all  these  facts  staring  us  in  the  face,  when  not  only  the 
mterestsol   the  state,  but  of  every  individual  almost  in  it.  requires   this 
road  to  be  btu  t,  shnh    we   Jiesitate  about  taking  hold  of  this  in    earn- 
t  '  est .     Do  not  let  us,  by  any  sectiunal  orlocal  jealousies  defeat,  or  delay 
the  speedy  completion  of  this  work.     Do  not  let  us  impose  a   restric. 
tion   or   condition  upon   any   company,    rail  road  or   otherwise,  that 
desires  to  aid  this  enterprize,  which  will  defeat  or  delay  it      The  stock- 
holders  who  invest  their   money,  must  decide  upon  the   route,  and  if 
legislative   restricdon  confines  them  to  a  particular  line,  or   compels  a 
cliange  of  routes,  it    endangers,  if  it  does  not  defeat  the  whole  work 
to  the  great  injury  of  the  public,  and  mthout  any  benefit  to  the  nartic^ 
ular  locality  sought  to  be  favored  by  legislation.     The  delay  of  even  one 
year,  from  any  such  cause,  '-is  paying  too  dear  for  the  whistle."     The 
legislatureis  now  m  session— it  will  not  be  again,   probably,   in   two 
years.    Let  th(nn  pass  such  a  law  as  will  enable  any  and   all  corpora- 
tions  or  associations  to  .subscribe  to  th-j  stock  of  Uiis   road,  and    then 
let^every  individual  act  thoroughly  and  efficiently. 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  procuring  the  necessary  subscription  to  the 
stock,  if  the  truth  is  only  laid  before  those  having  the  means.  Detroit 
alone  can  subscribe  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  pay  it  without 
anv  inconvenience.  There  are  more  than  five  hundred  persons  in 
this  city,  who  could  each  subscribe,  and  pay  in  the  year,  for/o«rsliares 
a  piece  without  scarcely  knowing  it—while  there  are  many  others  who 
can  subscribe  large  amounts,  and  we  have  no  doubt  will  do  so  when 
they  come  to  look  into  the  whole  subject,  and  give  it  that  consideraUon 
which  its  importance  to  the  gtate  demands. 


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